EXHIBITION
Sprout
Gallery Rubi, Tokyo, Japan
2013.11.07 - 2013.11.17
Moment of Sprout Made by Fate
It can be said that the first motivation of this exhibition lies on Koichi Io, a Japanese postgraduate student attending the Art School of Seoul National University, Korea. Koichi is the alumnus of the two ceramists whom have graduated from Seoul National University as well. Koichi was often able to encounter the pieces of these two artists and one day, shown the pieces to his Father, Kenji Io. I was told that the idea of this exhibition began with Professor Kenji Io when Koichi introduced and recommended the works of the artists, Deokho Kim and Inhwa Lee.
However, there is another special twist about this exhibition. Apart from the fact that these two artists are alumni of Koichi, the two artists are engaged for marriage. As the couple promised for marriage - one of the most important decisions in one's life – they have majored in the same subject and participated in the same exhibition in the neighbor country as well; all of which fate seems to play a significant role in this exhibition. However, what this exhibition tries to show is not the friendship between the son of Professor Io and the two artists nor the love story of the two young Korean artists invited to this exhibition, but is of course focused on the world of the works of the two artists.
Although it is quite recent that both two artists have finished their bachelor and masters courses at Seoul National University, they both well possess outstanding talents as artists and are highly renowned artists from various international and domestic contests and exhibitions, such as White in White annually held in Korea, the ceramic exhibition of Munich, Handwerkmesse München, the ceramic exhibition of Kellinghusen, Keramikmuseum Kellinghusen, Porzellanmanufaktur Fürstenberg of Germany, GmbH affiliate museum and Sattchi Gallery of London. Inhwa Lee, the senior of the two and a representative young artist of LVS Gallery of Korea, is the artist who has been already introduced by various Japanese magazines as a versatile young artist who has well digested significant administrative works as the teaching assistant of the faculty after graduating from postgraduate school. On the other hand, Deokho Kim, as a young artist who has just started his career as an artist after graduating postgraduate school, I would like to highly assess his potentials accumulated during the process of manufacturing the set structures of which were the topic of his master's paper. His future also, is well promising as he is already opening up some vigorous activities through various galleries.
Both of the pieces of the two artists are white porcelain works based on wheel throwing and both of the pieces are in the common ground of very thin walls and exquisite forms. In contrast to the fact, Deokho Kim favors a smooth semi-matte surface made by the magnesium component of dolomite or talc, Inwha Lee's pieces make a comfortable contrast with a different yet similar nature that induces a smooth touch by polishing the surface of the unglazed white porcelain. Thin and exquisite pieces of them portray that the two artists already possess prominent talents with fundamental knowledge and excellent values on the ceramic art field.
Despite the fact Japan and Korea have historically suffered many conflicts leaving scars and pain, apparently, there are some ties between people and cultural exchanges. I would like to thank Professor Io who has prepared this exhibition as the advisor of these two young artists and I wish peace and happiness for those with love and encouragement, participating in the 'Moment of Sprout made by Fate'.
Kap-sun Hwang, professor,
Seoul National University, Falculty of Craft And Design, Ceramic Major
Photo _ Deokho_Inhwa